Hello Everyone!
This is my first time to make a blog... so bear with me. I'm still learning...
Today, I want to talk about what happened last Friday, July 1st.
It was a big day for me and my family. Today (Jul 1), was my interview for my US Citizenship. It has been 5 years and 2 weeks since I came to the United States of America, and whatever happens today will decide my families future. We had so many activities lined up that I was nervous that I might not passed the interview with a lot of things to think of. Early morning, my husband Skip and I was supposed to drive to visit MIINC, but he looked at me so peacefully laying in the bed that he decided to do the visit himself. That very morning, I also had the TFC (The Filipino Channel) connected to our house by Mr. Marlo and Bona Macabare. I told them the previous day that we will be out of the house and they can start doing the outside connection while we were gone. The Macabare left a phone message to inform me they were outside the house and doing the connection, not knowing that I and my daughter Danaea were fast asleep inside. About 10AM, my husband Skip arrived and greeted the Macabare's. Skip told them I was still asleep... embarrassing isnt it? Skip then woke me up to get ready for the interview and to met the Macabare's outside.
Marlo and Bona were nice couple. They encouraged me not to be nervous for my big day, coz it wasnt really scary nor nerve wrecking at all... it was just a test of my knowledge of the US history and current politics. They said they have never heard of any filipino failing the interview except for the 80 something year old lady whom they knew. They wished me good luck. Before I continue about my big day... let me just give you an idea of what a TFC is... Its like a cable connection... but with filipino channels... directly from the Philippines. There were four filipino channels to be exact and some other asian countries which I have no idea what it was since I could not understand a single word they said... hehehe... I was only interested in the Philippine channel... since I am so homesick, I want to see and hear what is happening back there. The TFC was having a sale, and it cost me 146.25 dollars for the equipment, connection and labor. A monthly bill of about 25 dollars for two years and an extra one time 25 dollars for a two year equipment and service warranty. Not bad at all... considering we paid Circuit City Advantage Plan more than 300 dollars for just a two year tv warranty.
I had to hug and kiss my sleepy daughter Danaea goodbye and wished me luck too before we left for the U.S. Immigration office in Stemmons Freeway. The traffic as usual was bad... but we left early and so we had a lot of time to spare.
There were only a few people in the immigration office. It was an uncommon site. Usually when I come and visit the office, I would see a lot of people lining up. Skip and I had to wait for it to be 30 minutes before my sked coz it was specifically written that we should not be 30 minutes earlier than sked. So we waited in the car for a few minutes, we talked about the interview and we prayed too! Then it was time and he escorted me to the building. Filipino friends told me that my husband cant come in and he has to wait outside the building. But when we were approached by the security personnel, they told my husband he can come inside with me, but he cant come to the interview room. We had to leave our cellphones in the car... so he went back to the car and left the phones... We had to take off our watches and place it inside our bags for whatever reason... we didnt ask. We just wanted to get in and finish it all.
We passed thru the security measures without a problem. I then slipped in my appointment paper in the door where a slit was provided and waited to be called. It was one of the longest wait I had to do... I felt like it was back in the Philippine Embassy, when I had to wait for my number or turn to be interviewed. Nerve wrecking it was for me back then...
We saw a couple of secret service guys with badges and guns and they were the detention and removal officers of the immigration office. They just look exactly the way they were shown on TV shows. Time was ticking we knew... but we didnt know how long the wait was... then my name was called and my stomach started to feel funny... But I didnt show it outside, I still walked composed behind the interviewer... She made me raised my right hand and swore to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. I noticed that if I was so nervous and edgy, I might not have passed the test. Instead I remained calm and kept on praying to God to give me strength and good memory... She asked me something about my papers, and she asked me a couple of the test questions. She asked me again something about the paperworks and then asked me two more of the questions. She was quick to ask those questions too. It felt like she was throwing the questions, rather than asking them the usual way the teachers in school do a quiz (where they ask the question slowly). She was trying to see if I really knew the answers or not. And, I said to myself, oh, I better be careful coz she is good. I could be made to answer the wrong one if I dont think first before giving my answer. So when she asked me the quick questions, I answer her in a slow but sure way, taking time to pronounce each word correctly, giving me enough time to double check in my mind if that answer was correct. Then after the ten questions was asked in intervals of personnel questions in the application form. She put down the paper she was holding and placed a check mark on each of the questions and said... 10 over t10 and then made me write in English a sentence she made. Then she went back again to the paperworks or application document that I had and marked it and placed her initial and gave me a paper saying I passed the test... then after a few minutes gave me the notice of oath taking which will be on August 3 at the Dallas Convention Center. She told me the place was going to be packed and I need to eat a heavy breakfast coz it would take quite long. And that was it! I finally got my citizenship!!! Praise the Lord!!! I was so elated and so was my hubby and we came our of the office with a big smile on our faces. We then headed for Joe's Crab Shack for a late lunch, and I started calling friends and relatives about the good news! Then we headed to AMC 16 and watch "War of the Worlds" starred by Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning and directed by Steven Spielberg. Earned some points with my AMC card and got a free popcorn and discount on our snacks. And boy was the movie and popcorn good! We had fun! It was one of my great happy days in life!!!
This is my first time to make a blog... so bear with me. I'm still learning...
Today, I want to talk about what happened last Friday, July 1st.
It was a big day for me and my family. Today (Jul 1), was my interview for my US Citizenship. It has been 5 years and 2 weeks since I came to the United States of America, and whatever happens today will decide my families future. We had so many activities lined up that I was nervous that I might not passed the interview with a lot of things to think of. Early morning, my husband Skip and I was supposed to drive to visit MIINC, but he looked at me so peacefully laying in the bed that he decided to do the visit himself. That very morning, I also had the TFC (The Filipino Channel) connected to our house by Mr. Marlo and Bona Macabare. I told them the previous day that we will be out of the house and they can start doing the outside connection while we were gone. The Macabare left a phone message to inform me they were outside the house and doing the connection, not knowing that I and my daughter Danaea were fast asleep inside. About 10AM, my husband Skip arrived and greeted the Macabare's. Skip told them I was still asleep... embarrassing isnt it? Skip then woke me up to get ready for the interview and to met the Macabare's outside.
Marlo and Bona were nice couple. They encouraged me not to be nervous for my big day, coz it wasnt really scary nor nerve wrecking at all... it was just a test of my knowledge of the US history and current politics. They said they have never heard of any filipino failing the interview except for the 80 something year old lady whom they knew. They wished me good luck. Before I continue about my big day... let me just give you an idea of what a TFC is... Its like a cable connection... but with filipino channels... directly from the Philippines. There were four filipino channels to be exact and some other asian countries which I have no idea what it was since I could not understand a single word they said... hehehe... I was only interested in the Philippine channel... since I am so homesick, I want to see and hear what is happening back there. The TFC was having a sale, and it cost me 146.25 dollars for the equipment, connection and labor. A monthly bill of about 25 dollars for two years and an extra one time 25 dollars for a two year equipment and service warranty. Not bad at all... considering we paid Circuit City Advantage Plan more than 300 dollars for just a two year tv warranty.
I had to hug and kiss my sleepy daughter Danaea goodbye and wished me luck too before we left for the U.S. Immigration office in Stemmons Freeway. The traffic as usual was bad... but we left early and so we had a lot of time to spare.
There were only a few people in the immigration office. It was an uncommon site. Usually when I come and visit the office, I would see a lot of people lining up. Skip and I had to wait for it to be 30 minutes before my sked coz it was specifically written that we should not be 30 minutes earlier than sked. So we waited in the car for a few minutes, we talked about the interview and we prayed too! Then it was time and he escorted me to the building. Filipino friends told me that my husband cant come in and he has to wait outside the building. But when we were approached by the security personnel, they told my husband he can come inside with me, but he cant come to the interview room. We had to leave our cellphones in the car... so he went back to the car and left the phones... We had to take off our watches and place it inside our bags for whatever reason... we didnt ask. We just wanted to get in and finish it all.
We passed thru the security measures without a problem. I then slipped in my appointment paper in the door where a slit was provided and waited to be called. It was one of the longest wait I had to do... I felt like it was back in the Philippine Embassy, when I had to wait for my number or turn to be interviewed. Nerve wrecking it was for me back then...
We saw a couple of secret service guys with badges and guns and they were the detention and removal officers of the immigration office. They just look exactly the way they were shown on TV shows. Time was ticking we knew... but we didnt know how long the wait was... then my name was called and my stomach started to feel funny... But I didnt show it outside, I still walked composed behind the interviewer... She made me raised my right hand and swore to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. I noticed that if I was so nervous and edgy, I might not have passed the test. Instead I remained calm and kept on praying to God to give me strength and good memory... She asked me something about my papers, and she asked me a couple of the test questions. She asked me again something about the paperworks and then asked me two more of the questions. She was quick to ask those questions too. It felt like she was throwing the questions, rather than asking them the usual way the teachers in school do a quiz (where they ask the question slowly). She was trying to see if I really knew the answers or not. And, I said to myself, oh, I better be careful coz she is good. I could be made to answer the wrong one if I dont think first before giving my answer. So when she asked me the quick questions, I answer her in a slow but sure way, taking time to pronounce each word correctly, giving me enough time to double check in my mind if that answer was correct. Then after the ten questions was asked in intervals of personnel questions in the application form. She put down the paper she was holding and placed a check mark on each of the questions and said... 10 over t10 and then made me write in English a sentence she made. Then she went back again to the paperworks or application document that I had and marked it and placed her initial and gave me a paper saying I passed the test... then after a few minutes gave me the notice of oath taking which will be on August 3 at the Dallas Convention Center. She told me the place was going to be packed and I need to eat a heavy breakfast coz it would take quite long. And that was it! I finally got my citizenship!!! Praise the Lord!!! I was so elated and so was my hubby and we came our of the office with a big smile on our faces. We then headed for Joe's Crab Shack for a late lunch, and I started calling friends and relatives about the good news! Then we headed to AMC 16 and watch "War of the Worlds" starred by Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning and directed by Steven Spielberg. Earned some points with my AMC card and got a free popcorn and discount on our snacks. And boy was the movie and popcorn good! We had fun! It was one of my great happy days in life!!!
posted by Deborah Liza Steele @ 6:46 PM
1 Comments:
At 11:40 PM,
Anonymous said…
Good for you, congratulations once again. How long did you wait until that time, since your application was sent?
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